Page 15 of Club Royal: Calendar Collection

They had experienced a close call with a snake as they were walking in the back garden of the house, but luckily, they’d had Adam close by with more experience than they had.

He wouldn’t have caused a fuss about it, but he hadn’t been able to identify what it was, so he’d called out for help.

It had been a copperhead snake, which was poisonous, but everything had worked out fine.

Mav, however, wasn’t a fan. And he doubted he would ever be again.

“I’ll get everything double-checked before we take the suitcases home. Wouldn’t want any stowaways.”

“Don’t even joke about that.”

Adam chuckled. “There is a wonderful shop nearby. I’m sure you’ll find everything you need there. We can go when you’re done here.”

“See! Adam thinks we should take gifts home,” Douglas said.

“Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly what he meant,” Mav deadpanned.

Douglas left his suitcase and slid his arms around Mav’s waist. “I promise we won’t bring anything big. And we’ll be quick.” He pressed his lips to his neck where it met his shoulder. “I’ll be quick.”

Mav chuckled. “Only in certain areas, please.”

Douglas snorted and glanced across to where Adam had once been. The man had become adept at disappearing when things were hotting up. Luckily for them.

“I think we have time to test that statement.”

Mav

Mav shook his head at the pile of presents taking up a significant amount of space in the receiving room.

Douglas had not been true to his word, and they had needed to delay their flight by an hour to get all the gifts on the plane before they could leave.

Mav had known who he was marrying, though, and he wouldn’t have him any other way.

“Who do you think is going to get here first?” Douglas said from his perch against the table by the drinks.

“George. Without a doubt.” He was the most energetic and inquisitive of them all, Mav had found. But the one least likely to make headlines—most of the time. He’d certainly made them when he’d chosen two partners to live his life with. Mav had enough to do with just one.

“Normally, I would agree, but I have been away for a while. I think Father might beat him.”

Mav glanced at him. “Wager?”

“If I’m right, you have to try that cock cage I bought for you.”

Mav swallowed hard. He loved the idea of that particular cock cage but hadn’t yet gathered the courage to try it. He’d tried others, but this one was special.

“And if I win?”

“What do you want?” Douglas smirked.

Mav grinned, knowing exactly what he wanted. “You in handcuffs.”

Douglas chuckled. “All you had to do was ask, my love.”

They stared at each other, and if the images that were running through Mav’s head were any indication of what was going through Douglas’s, they were in for a long night—or weekend.

The door handle rattled, and Mav held his breath, trying to hear who it was.

“Fuck,” Mav breathed as Oscar raced through the door with Christian not far behind.

“Sorry, Ozzie was a little excited when he heard the word present,” Christian said, claiming his little’s hand as the boy came to a standstill just inside the door. “You have to be patient, Ozzie. Everyone else has to get here first.”

Ozzie bit his lip and bounced on his toes. “Can I have a biccie, Daddy?” he asked.

Christian smiled. “Shall we see what I packed in your lunch box?”

“Yay!”

Mav smiled at the interaction. Though he didn’t like the Daddy and little dynamic for himself, he enjoyed watching others in the role, and the littles were so damn cute.

“We hadn’t thought about what would happen if we were both wrong?” Douglas whispered in his ear, his hands settling against his stomach from behind.

“Well, I’m sure both can be arranged,” Mav muttered.

Douglas pressed an open-mouthed kiss on his neck, a deep exhale leaving him and heating Mav’s skin.

He couldn’t do anything else because more people arrived.

As it was, George had been the second person to enter with Andrew, the king, not far behind.

The entire family was eager to welcome them home, which was something Mav still struggled to believe at times.

No matter what they were doing, if a family member needed something or had been away and had come home, they were always there to help or greet them, or whatever else was needed at that time.

He and his father were close, but the Sutcliffes went above and beyond. It was nice.

“So, what’s all this?” Patrick asked once they were all accounted for. The entire Sexy Sixteen was in attendance—not that Mav would ever admit to using that nickname. That gave George too much power.

“These are called gifts,” Douglas said. “The items are wrapped in pretty paper, sometimes with a bow, and are given to someone else without the need to reciprocate.”

Patrick stared at him. “Time away hasn’t changed you at all, I see.”

Laughter rippled through them.

“Why change perfection?” Douglas grinned. “Just for that, you get yours last.” He faced Mav. “Why don’t you choose the first person?”

With a small smile, he couldn’t make the little boy wait any longer. He reached for a medium-sized box and stood, handing it over to Ozzie.

“Oh,” Ozzie breathed, staring at the gold paper.

“What do you say, Ozzie?” Christian nudged after a few seconds of silence.

The words seemed to knock Ozzie from his trance. “Thank you!” He tore into the paper, grinning when the item fell out. “A roo!” He held up the cuddly kangaroo, a similar size to the dinosaur he carried with him most of the time.

“And for your Daddy…” Douglas said, handing over the package.

Christian shook his head. “You didn’t have to, but thanks.” He opened the paper with the care and attention he gave to most things. “It’s…”

“A booran!” Ozzie shouted.

Mav couldn’t help the chuckle, “Yes. A boomerang. Douglas will explain where that idea came from.”

Mav glanced at Christian’s raised eyebrows and knew exactly what the man was thinking: What the heck?

“And for the musically inclined…” Douglas said as Mav handed Patrick and Kieren their gifts.

Mav was sure Patrick would appreciate his, but he wasn’t so sure if Kieren would understand the significance of his. Had Patrick told him of the opportunity he’d been given when he was younger? Mav only knew because Douglas had shared it when they were deciding on presents.

“Oh, that’s bloody brilliant!” George laughed, pointing at Patrick when the didgeridoo came into view. “How long will it take you to master that?”

Patrick snorted. “It’s not as easy as it seems, so I’m told. I’ve yet to try, but I’m looking forward to giving it a go.” He glanced at Kieren. “What did you get?”

Kieren held up a keyring of the Sydney Opera House with a slight smile. “At least I won’t get my keys mixed up anymore.” Patrick leaned across and pressed his lips to the corner of his mouth. “Plus, it’s a great reminder of what you are more than capable of doing if you wanted to.”

Patrick smiled. “Nah, I’m much happier being on home soil. I don’t need a concert in that place to know I can play.”

“No, you don’t, but you don’t listen to us when we tell you how good you are,” Freddie said with a shake of his head.

“Can any of us take a compliment?” Henry asked.

“George!” Patrick, Christian and Douglas said after a beat of silence. George threw a cushion in their general direction.

“Shut up,” he said without heat. “Who’s next?”

Mav kept a blank face, even though he wanted to smile at George’s not-so-subtle hint that he wanted his gift. “Henry and Robert.”

Douglas handed out the boxes, one slightly larger than the other, and they waited for their response.

“Seriously?” Henry whispered, shaking his head but also smiling. “A dog toy.”

“If the shoe fits…” Douglas said. “Plus, who can say no to such a cute, cuddly koala? Look, it’s called Kobie.”

“And when we saw this keyring, we thought of you,” Mav said to Robert, who had opened his box to find a keyring of the Great Barrier Reef. “It’s not the same plants and flowers you deal with, but we thought you might like it.”

“I love it. I’m fascinated by what plants can live underwater. It’s something we could consider expanding into eventually.”

“As if business isn’t blooming already,” Henry joked, “We need to find another ten of you, and then the place would be manned night and day. It still wouldn’t be enough hours for the amount of work.”

Robert beamed. “We are doing pretty good, aren’t we?”

“If I can tear you away from the place, maybe a trip down under would be good for us,” Henry mused.

“That’s what they all say,” Douglas quipped, bringing out the next items. “Freddie and Damon, enjoy.”

“I have a bad feeling,” Damon said, holding the large flat square. He tore the paper free and gasped. “Holy… This is amazing, thank you.”

They’d decided on a piece of aboriginal art for him, and Mav had loved it as much as Damon seemed to. There was something about it that spoke to Mav, but he wouldn’t have been able to explain it if someone asked.

“That’ll look perfect on the wall by the window,” Freddie said, sliding his arm around his shoulders. “It’s magnificent.”

“What did you get?” Damon asked.

Freddie opened the gift. “Oh wow, that’s quite something.”

The solid glass rectangle had a landscape of Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it was called, in the centre of it, but if it was placed near a light source, it would almost glow with transparent colours. A rare but fortuitous find.

“And now for Father and the terrible twosome,” Douglas said with a grin. He’d started calling Kean and Kendal that when they’d joked about making him call them ‘Dad.’

“Oh, that’s going to be a nice bottle,” Andrew said, studying the Shiraz they’d bought him.

Kean chuckled. “I’m not sure how easy it would be to use this, but it’s definitely quirky enough that I’ll try.” His gift was a cup shaped like a wave and a surfboard. He was right because Mav had said the same thing, but even if it was used as a decoration—or even a vase—it would be good.

“Aww, this is so cute,” Kendal said, cuddling the quokka in their arms. “It’ll have pride of place on the shelf in the living room.”

“Jeez, can I have mine already?” George asked, flopping around on the sofa like a kid.

“Well, now. With an attitude like that, you’ll have to wait.” Douglas passed a gift each to Eddie and Timothy.

“Coffee!” Eddie yelled when he opened the boxes. “I can’t wait to show everyone at work.” He glanced at Timothy, craning his neck to see.

“Nice,” Timothy said, holding up the leather satchel that had the print of Australia on the front. “It’s such good quality, not like the one I’ve been using. I wanted to replace it but never got round to it.”

Eddie gaped. “I thought you liked it and wanted to hold on to it. If I’d realised that, I would’ve bought you a replacement.”

Timothy kissed his cheek. “I know, but I didn’t need one. Now, though, I have no excuse. Thanks.”

George poured from his seat, and Mav put him out of his misery, handing him a parcel.

He grinned and tore the paper. Everyone started howling when they saw what it was.

Douglas slid his arm around Mav’s shoulder and pulled him back against him, resting comfortably together as they usually did.

He enjoyed the laughter, having missed it while they’d been gone.

He hadn’t realised how big a part of his life everyone had become, which was stupid, really.

He was married to a prince and that prince had an enormous family, who were all very close.

It would’ve been weird if they hadn’t become a big part of it.

George sighed and then joined in the laughter. “I’m not sure it’ll go with my outfit, but I’m always willing to try.”

He plopped the cork hat on his head, and the laughter increased again. He looked like Crocodile Dundee.

“Daddy, can I have one?” Ozzie piped up, sending everyone into fits once more.

****